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[427]
Now this vast multitude is indeed collected out of remote places,
but the entire nation was now shut up by fate as in prison, and the Roman
army encompassed the city when it was crowded with inhabitants. Accordingly,
the multitude of those that therein perished exceeded all the destructions
that either men or God ever brought upon the world; for, to speak only
of what was publicly known, the Romans slew some of them, some they carried
captives, and others they made a search for under ground, and when they
found where they were, they broke up the ground and slew all they met with.
There were also found slain there above two thousand persons, partly by
their own hands, and partly by one another, but chiefly destroyed by the
famine; but then the ill savor of the dead bodies was most offensive to
those that lighted upon them, insomuch that some were obliged to get away
immediately, while others were so greedy of gain, that they would go in
among the dead bodies that lay on heaps, and tread upon them; for a great
deal of treasure was found in these caverns, and the hope of gain made
every way of getting it to be esteemed lawful. Many also of those that
had been put in prison by the tyrants were now brought out; for they did
not leave off their barbarous cruelty at the very last: yet did God avenge
himself upon them both, in a manner agreeable to justice. As for John,
he wanted food, together with his brethren, in these caverns, and begged
that the Romans would now give him their right hand for his security, which
he had often proudly rejected before; but for Simon, he struggled hard
with the distress he was in, fill he was forced to surrender himself, as
we shall relate hereafter; so he was reserved for the triumph, and to be
then slain; as was John condemned to perpetual imprisonment. And now the
Romans set fire to the extreme parts of the city, and burnt them down,
and entirely demolished its walls.
1
1 THAT WHEREAS THE CITY OF JERUSALEM HAD BEEN FIVE TIMES TAKEN FORMERLY, THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME OF ITS DESOLATION. A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF ITS HISTORY.
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